Why does my Oncologist dislake the pill Xeloda??

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  • lisa42
    lisa42 Member Posts: 3,625 Member
    #22
    now am back on 5FU
    Interesting seeing this thread that was originally posted back in August. I just reread my reply from August stating how much I hated the 5FU pump & how I was willing to put up with a little hand and foot syndrome to have the freedom of taking Xeloda pills vs. having the pump. Well... it's now fast forwarded a few months & I have been switched by my onc (and with me agreeing) from Xeloda back to the 5FU pump (I am also on Gemzar and Avastin in addition to the Xeloda or 5FU). My hand/foot syndrome got so bad that I was really, really suffering. My hands were raw and constantly cracked and my fingertips peeled so many times that I was losing my feeling in them. I was using all types of creams and prescriptions, as well as taking alpha lipoic acid, L-glutamine, and numerous other supplements. So... as much as I proclaimed I hated the pump before, I'm back on it again. And, I'm doing okay on it. It's nice to no longer have the hand/foot problems. I've had two chemo sessions with it so far. The first time, i had no side effects. This past time, I did get several sores inside my mouth and inside my nose. So, I guess you have to choose your poison, quite literally actually! For now, I think this is the way to go for me.

    Interesting how perspective can change over time and with different experiences.

    Lisa
  • CherylHutch
    CherylHutch Member Posts: 1,375
    #23
    lisa42 said:

    now am back on 5FU
    Interesting seeing this thread that was originally posted back in August. I just reread my reply from August stating how much I hated the 5FU pump & how I was willing to put up with a little hand and foot syndrome to have the freedom of taking Xeloda pills vs. having the pump. Well... it's now fast forwarded a few months & I have been switched by my onc (and with me agreeing) from Xeloda back to the 5FU pump (I am also on Gemzar and Avastin in addition to the Xeloda or 5FU). My hand/foot syndrome got so bad that I was really, really suffering. My hands were raw and constantly cracked and my fingertips peeled so many times that I was losing my feeling in them. I was using all types of creams and prescriptions, as well as taking alpha lipoic acid, L-glutamine, and numerous other supplements. So... as much as I proclaimed I hated the pump before, I'm back on it again. And, I'm doing okay on it. It's nice to no longer have the hand/foot problems. I've had two chemo sessions with it so far. The first time, i had no side effects. This past time, I did get several sores inside my mouth and inside my nose. So, I guess you have to choose your poison, quite literally actually! For now, I think this is the way to go for me.

    Interesting how perspective can change over time and with different experiences.

    Lisa

    Back on 5FU
    Aww... sorry you had to do that, but like you say.... it is interesting how one's perspective can change over time and possibly even have a different experience. It sounds like you were really having an uncomfortable time with the hand and foot syndrome. When I was on Xeloda, I didn't have any problems with my hands... but my feet! Yikes! I had both heels peel off in two big sheets of skin. The pain I had in the heels was not on the surface skin but deep inside... to the point I couldn't walk on my feet even from the bedroom to the bathroom. Once again, my onc had to reduce my dose because it was so bad... but alas, it seems the reduced dose was not enough, hence the Xeloda stopped working for me.

    I loved the convenience of the pill vs the infusion (and certainly the pump)... but couldn't handle the pain in the heels... or obviously the dose that I needed.

    So, that is why I'm now on the Irinotecan. She didn't put me on the 5FU because I had such back neuropathy and nerve damage with it. She says the Irinotecan is as strong and powerful as Oxy, but without the side affects of neuropathy or hand/foot syndrome. Ha! It's true... that hasn't been bothering me... but oy vey, does it every do a number on one's tummy/intestinal tract :)

    Pick your poisons is right :D

    Cheryl

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